private-do-not-enter-1201

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

DON’T READ UNLESS YOU ARE WHO I SENT IT TO!

A Murder in High Castle

Prologue

*Tommy was always a special child, fascinated in things a child shouldn’t be fascinated in. His eyes were always glued to the TV at night after sneaking out of his room into the living room as he watched crime shows like ‘Dexter’ and ‘Criminal Minds’, seeking comfort and understanding in the fictional world and drawing ideas from it.*

*The young child grew fascinated by the looks of the fake blood, the knives, the *gore* of it all and that’s something a child should not be interested in to that extent.*

*He began to wonder what it felt like to feel the blood on his hands, how the weight of the knife would feel, how much resistance the body would give when faced with a knife wielded by his tiny hands.*

*As Tommy grew, he began to imagine the perfect disposal methods. He would write the different methods in a journal and lay awake at night imagining the different ways of approach, slowly deciding on which to put into practice when he found the perfect victim.*

*Tommy, while he is far from normal, he still had his morals. He figured that no one would miss the murders and rapists they let out of prison, so that was his future catalog of victims and then you had the seedy underworld of the small town of High Castle, New England.*

*Tommy learned very early on in his life that there were bad people wearing friendly smiles everywhere; cops, bakers, beloved store owners, priests, pastors, teachers, neighbors…bad people are EVERYWHERE and in his mind, the sooner you learn the better.*

*The boy wrote down a list and kept it hidden in the floorboards, crossing out names when they would pass from natural causes and silently hoping they were suffering for their wrong doings.*

*Tommy would bring along his trusted canine companion as he walked the streets, trusting and loving that dog more than anyone, even life itself.*

*Tommy is now 24, still living at home and taking care of his parents, Mary and Steven. The young man had a job at the local hardware store, a mild mannered man with a striking height and looks that would present as trusted and kind to anyone. Sharp green eyes, a head of raven hair cut into a buzz cut with a stylish fade, stubble gracing his face, and finally a sweet and innocent smile with dimples that can charm anyone in sight.*

*Tommy had recently suffered a loss, several in fact and the man had snapped mentally. He was soon going to get his relief, find his sanity in ridding the world of scum and disgusting monsters.*

Chapter 1

*December 28th, 2023*

“Tommy! Come down for breakfast, Dear!” *Mary calls out from the kitchen from their double wide trailer, quickly setting the table with pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, and water.*

“Coming!” *Tommy called out with a sigh, not necessarily looking forward to the breakfast. Slipping on his work pants and shirt, grabbing his name tag, wallet, and phone as he gets ready to leave the room.*

*Mary and Steven are already at the table when Tommy walks in, both look to their son with smiles, Mary is currently acting as if she didn’t lose her shit the hour prior to this and yell Tommy for no reason. Steven,Tommy's dad and always the rug to his mother, smiles at his son but soon turns back to his breakfast ready to say Grace and start eating.*

*Tommy drops into the chair with a sigh and his usual fake smile in place, as if they realize it’s fake, and bows his head in respect so his father can say grace.*

“Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and this blessed meal you lay upon this table. We pray you watch over our family today and guide us in our endeavors, keeping us safe and bringing us home to one another. Amen.” *Steven finishes the blessing and smiles at his family, nodding at his family to signal they can eat.*

“Thank you, honey.” *Mary says sweetly to Steven, looking towards Tommy with a smile and asking her son,* “What do you have planned today, sweetie?”

*Tommy slowly pulls off a piece of sausage from his fork and gets flashes of what he has planned for the day, muffled screams and the sounds of blood spattering echoing in his head but he just smiles at his mom and speaks.* “Nothing much, work and a night out afterwards. There’s this movie I want to go see but it’s four hours from here, a special drive-in theater. We each get our own private spots, sounds like pure bliss so I wanted to try it out.”

“That sounds like fun, son! What movie?” *Steven asks Tommy, his tone gruff but kind.*

“Scream, that slasher film from the 90’s with Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich.” *Tommy says with a smile in place, giving just enough information to throw his parents off his scent and not ask any questions. Though after a beat, Tommy continues.* “Don’t worry, I already have my motel picked out and I will not drink and drive.”

“Good, that’s good.” *Mary says with a smile, none the wiser her son is soon going to commit one of the worst crimes in the book, murder.*

*The breakfast goes by with small talk, to which Tommy has to grit his teeth and participate, but he gets through it and leaves after saying his ‘bye’s and his ‘I love you’s to his parents so he can head to work.*

*Tommy gets into his 1967 Chevy Impala, having bought the car and fixed it up after saving up a good chunk of money, and cranks it up so he can go to work.*

*As the young man drives, his eyes flicker to the passenger side floorboards where lays a secret flap; he keeps his journal with the list of victims, his methods of kill, and his disposal methods. A sick but happy smile comes to his face, his body flooding with relief as he imagines how tonight will go.*

*The drive is peaceful to the hardware store, sprinkles of rain hitting the windshield of his car as the trees and houses pass him by in a blur. Soft 80’s music coming from the radio as he drives, the music provides a sick, but funny, backdrop to the images and sound floating through his head.*

*After twenty minutes, Tommy pulls to the curb and parks his car. After grabbing his keys from the ignition Tommy glances at the floorboards once more, a giddy giggle working its way through his throat and out of his mouth, an innocent sound for a situation that’s anything but.*

*Tommy slings his hood over his head and climbs from his car, locking it and bolting inside the hardware store quickly so as to not get soaked with rain.*

“Tommy!” *Mr. Rhodes, the hardware store owner, says with a chuckle, Tommy being his favorite and longest employee.*

*Tommy smiles back at the man, one of the only good people that Tommy’s ever met who has no hidden agenda or wrong hidden desires, and responds jokingly.* “Hey, Mr. Rhodes! I really hope you left some inventory for me, you know I love it.”

*Mr. Rhodes laughs at Tommy’s joke, a smile glued to his face as he checks out a male customer, Richard, tape, chains, bolt cutters, and a padlock.*

“Quite a haul you got.” *Mr. Rhodes says to the man with a huff of laughter, tone of voice slightly edged and cautious.*

“Yeah, I have a dog who doesn’t listen and the wife won’t do anything so I will. Time to learn it.” *Richard Marks, the town doctor, says with a sneering grunt.

*Dr. Dick, as Tommy calls him, tries to keep his voice low but it’s not low enough and Tommy overhears, the young man tensing and a low snarl works its way up.*

“***Him***.” *Tommy thinks silently to himself, anger gnashing and tearing through his body like volts from a live wire.*

“He’s number one.” *Tommy adds to his silent self-commentary, his own voice a mere snarl in the back of his head. Anger floats through him as he watches Dr. Dick checkout then leave, Tommy knows that the man’s wife and kids won’t miss him so Richard Marks just made it to the number one spot of the murder list.*

Chapter 2

*Work passes slowly for Tommy, all the angry young man wants to do is to get out of here and place his plan into motion. When the clock strikes 2 pm, Tommy bids Mr. Rhodes a goodbye and quickly leaves the store and makes his way to the hotel four hours away from the town so he can set things up for what he does to Dr. Dick.*

*It’s a long drive for someone as antsy as Tommy, fidgeting the whole time the whole ride there; tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, rocking back and forth to the music, shifting in his seat, and sometimes accelerating a bit much by accident but he finally arrives at 6:30 pm and gets things prepared.*

*Tommy parks the car and goes inside to the front desk, greeting the receptionist with a friendly and kind smile.* “Hey, I called about the last room you had available, Tommy Walker.”

“Oh yeah! Tommy, ok. Here it is, you made it here just in time, I was gonna do first come first serve.” *The receptionist says with a friendly smile and laugh, the woman is in her 20’s, blonde hair, brown eyes, cleft chin, and an upturned nose.*

“Ah yeah, I don’t blame you. That just makes me glad to have made it in time! You said uhhh $170 for a couple nights, right?” *Tommy enquiries to the beautiful woman, even if she’s not his type she’s still stunning.*

“Yes! $170 is right. We take Cash, Debit, or Credit but no checks.” *Alice, judging by her name tag, says to Tommy while looking up the rates. With a few clicks she books the room in his name and Tommy gives her $200 in cash, having saved up for this very moment.*

“Not many people can save this amount of cash in this day and time, I’m surprised.” *Alice says with a soft and surprised laugh, knowing very well how shitty the economy is at the moment.*

“Tell me about it, I had to fight to save $400 in two years. It’s always something with this fucking shitty ass government, sickening.” *Tommy says with a bitter scoff, knowing full well the impact the fucked up and corrupt current administration is on both sides.*

“Yeah, I’m living paycheck to paycheck with this shitty ass job but here they are knocking at my door for my rent plus water bill. This shit ain’t living wage, it’s not even death wage.” *Alice says with a shake of her head, her brown eyes sad and bitter to an extent as she finishes checking Tommy in.*

“Think about it this way, hopefully we will get candidates that aren’t pieces of shit.” *Tommy says with a soft chuckle as he tries to cheer her up, a gentle smile falling into place as he accepts the ticket and keys from Alice.*

“Here’s hoping! And I hope you have a good stay, you definitely won’t be bothered in that room.” *Alice says to Tommy with a smile, eyes a bit softer as she looks at the tall and built nerdy, but handsome, looking guy.*

“Yeah, thanks. You have a good night, Alice. I hope it stays quiet for you.” *Tommy says with a grin to the young woman as he turns and walks out, simply going to get his bags and go to the room to prepare it for his not so innocent activities.*

*Tommy goes to his car and unloads the bags, making a couple of trips to get everything in then he shuts and locks the motel room door.*

“Alright, let’s get started.” *Tommy whispers to himself as he starts the process of moving things around and wrapping things in plastic, taking every precaution he can so no one will know that Richard Marks will have met his end here at a small little motel on the outskirts of High Castle, New England.*

Chapter 3

*It takes a bit but by 12 am, Tommy is done and so he goes to the drive-in movie theater that’s showing Scream, pulling off to the side of the road to change his clothes.*

*Tommy pulls in and finds his spot, getting set up quickly so he can go to the little shack they have for popcorn, drinks, and snacks.*

“Hey, welcome to Bob’s Drive-in! What can I get you?” *A kid, who is no more than 16, asks in a slightly squeaky voice.*

“I’ll just have a Dr. Pepper, a couple of packs of M&M’s, and 2 small bags of Nacho Cheese Doritos. Oh, plus a small popcorn bucket so I can combine my snacks and nacho cheese.” *Tommy says eagerly, his eyes bright, stomach rumbling in excitement, and fingers itching to get his hands on something he now normally deprives himself of.*

“Ok, that will be $10.” *the kid says and Tommy happily forks over the $10, the money fresh and crisp. Tommy always wanting the perfect, smooth, and new bills, always asking the lady at the front of the bank for the new ones seeing as it tickles his brain just right.*

*The kid takes Tommy’s money and hands over the bag of his stuff with a nod, getting the change.* “$3 is your change, have a nice night, Sir.”

“Oh god, sir already. Thanks, kid.” *Tommy says with a laugh and walks out, his age floating through his head and silently groaning to himself as he sits down in his car.*

*Throughout the movie, Tommy’s eyes occasionally drift to where the journal is laying in it’s hidden spot under the carpet of the passenger side floorboards, mind echoing with what he plans on doing to Dr. Dick the next night.*

*Tommy sighs and pulls out the book, skimming through it and adding to Richard’s name; Wife beater, animal abuser, adulterer, possibly controlling of his kids. The list going on and on and on, Tommy growing angrier with each pen stroke.*

*He spends the whole movie planning what he’s going to do to Dr. Dick, the top choice; ***Make him SUFFER***. By the end, he had a whole plan of what he was going to do and so he pulls from the drive-in and makes his way back to the hotel, greeting Alice with a wave as he goes back to his room.*

*Once in, Tommy settles down on the plastic covered bed and closes his eyes. His dreams are filled with Richard’s screams, blood, a knife laying on the desk with the tip dripping in blood, the sounds of the blood falling and collecting in pools, the blood spattering on the walls.*

*To some it would be a nightmare, but to Tommy…to Tommy it was calming and soothing, slightly arousing as images of himself flash through his head; panting, no shirt, smeared in blood, eyes wild and pupils narrowed to pinpoints, bloody hand prints smeared on his chest, face, and neck, and with a sound of thunder and a flash, Tommy gets closer to this version of himself.*

“Fuck yeah, it feels good.” *The blood covered version of himself whispers to him, faces inches apart, getting a clear view of what he is to become and Tommy? Tommy isn’t mad about it, smiling in his dream that leaks into the real world as a smile crosses a sleeping Tommy’s face; something of pure bliss but soon it's over, with a flash and a crack of the thunder sound, Tommy awakens.*

*Green eyes snapping open to the sound of knocking on the motel room door,* “Yes?” *Tommy calls out, his voice having an edge to it as he does not know who’s on the other side.*

“Maid!” *echoes a female voice and Tommy relaxes with a sigh, calling out to refuse saying he will clean when he leaves.*

*Tommy sighs and stares at the ceiling when the maid leaves, green eyes frustrated and pants tighter around him.* “Just a few more hours. A few more and you can have him, a few more and he’s gone.”

Chapter 4

*Tommy starts his day like any other, spending it as he normally would when he has a day off; browsing the internet, scrolling through instagram and TikTok, daydreaming of scenarios and napping.*

*As time passes, Tommy grows antsy and so he gets up and double checks everything; rope, knives, cleaning supplies, medicine to knock out Dr. Dick with. Everything is there, ready for use.*

*The hours continue to pass and Tommy hears the sound of a car pulling in so he looks from the window, Dr. Dicks car has just pulled in. You see, Richard has a mistress he has been meeting for years and one day Tommy decided to leave a flyer in the doctor's office Richard owned so the young man had a perfect killing ground.*

“A few more hours, just a few. Fuck, this cannot go by fast enough. I wonder if Alice would be up for some fun…maybe sneak in the office and waste an hour.” *Tommy whispers to himself, the young male is wound tight from all the planning, the waiting, the dreaming, and now the sight of his victim climbing from the car and going to check into his usual room.*

*Tommy sighs and checks his watch, it’s 6 pm now and Richard normally doesn’t arrive back in town until 6 am so that gives Tommy 8 hours to act, 10 pm to 6 am and so Tommy decides to go see Alice after Dr. Dick disappears into his room.*

*Tommy strolls to the front desk and smiles at Alice, his tongue flicking slowly over his bottom lip as he uses his knowledge of seduction to his gain.* “Hey, Alice! I ah wanted to see if you had a bit of time to waste?”

“Ah, yeah. Yeah, I have a bit of time to waste.” *Alice says in a soft voice, ready and willing even though she knows that this is a fuck and go situation. She sees it as she needs a bit of relief as well so she leads Tommy back into the office and shuts the door with a click, nothing but silence in the office soon after.*

*If one were to walk into the lobby area, you’d hear the sound of a desk creaking, followed by soft grunts and moans floating through the air. You’d know damn well what was happening behind that door, some may even enjoy listening.*

*Tommy sighs softly against Alice’s neck as he slows his movements, his body shuddering along with her’s as they both come down from the high they just experienced.*

“Fuck.” *Is all Alice says, her brows are still pinched and twitching, bottom lip sucked into her mouth as she levels her breathing, her body shifting back and her head thumping softly against the desk as her body and features relax.*

“You good?” *Tommy asks, his voice low and gentle as to not startle the young woman.*

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m good. Shit, dude. I needed that.” *Alice says with a laugh as Tommy pulls away and discards the condom, they both get dressed as they casually chat and Alice even asks with a laugh if Tommy could come back and do that to her again sometime.*

“Eh, yeah. Yeah, sure. I could use it, but next time a bed and not a desk. One of the reasons, I don’t want you losing your job because you fucked a costumer in the office area.” *Tommy says with a laugh, dimples and pearly whites on display as he continues to charm Alice.*

“Cool, here’s my number. I gotta go out front, fucking moron in 12B doesn’t know how to work the vending machine and I have to help her every damn time.” *Alice says while handing over a slip of paper with a sigh, irritation written clear across her face and in her eyes.*

“Hey, maybe she’s flirting by playing stupid.” *Tommy says with a shrug as the exit the back office, both of them looking slightly rumpled but not enough to where anyone would shove their nose into the two’s business.*

“Then tell me, don’t make me keep going up and down the damn steps.” *Alice huffs, her tone slightly biting and agitated.*

*Tommy looks at her and gives her a loud laugh as he leaves, waving bye and running back to his room to prepare for later that night.*

Chapter 5

*Time continues to pass slowly but soon enough, the clock strikes 12 am and Tommy gets the meds ready to inject Dr. Dick with.*

*After he gets it ready, he watches as the bastard says goodbye to his mistress and walks back into his room and shuts the door, presumably going to take his shower before he goes back home and lies to his wife some more.*

*Tommy sets his plan into motion at 12:30 am by sneaking from his room and into Dr. Dicks by picking the lock, being careful to be as quiet as possible as he goes.*

*Once it’s done, Tommy slinks into the room and shuts the door with a gentle, ‘Click.’, and pulls the syringe from his pocket and waits under the bed.*

*Finally around 1 am, Dr. Dick finishes his grooming process and comes out. Tommy watches his feet as he passes the bed and pauses at the suitcase, and that’s when he makes his move.*

*Tommy slowly and quietly slides from under the bed and sneaks up behind the doctor and whispers in his ear, lips grazing it as he covers the doctor’s mouth and restrains him.* “Hey, Doc.”

*Richard buck’s against Daniel but he’s no match for the bigger and younger form that has him surrounded, the doctor looks back and up with wide and fearful eyes to Tommy, who he has known since Tommy was a young boy, and whimpers. Fear is glowing brightly in the doctor’s eyes as he looks at Tommy, then he sees the syringe in the young man’s hand and fights harder but that doesn’t work.*

“No, no. You have been a bad boy, Richard. A very naughty boy.” *Tommy hisses lowly and sticks the needle in Richard’s neck with a, ‘thwip…,’ and you can hear as Tommy slowly injects the sedative into the doctor, the medicine making a squirting sound as the plunger is pushed down.*

“Let’s go.” *Tommy whispers as Dr. Dick grows heavy and limp, hauling the older man over his shoulder as he walks out and sneaks back to his room.*

*Once in his room, Tommy sits Richard’s limp form in the chair and binds the man with a rope. While the older male is out cold, bound and gagged in the chair, Tommy goes and gives the doctor’s room a good scrub as he cleans up any traces and throws the man’s stuff in his trunk.*

*Luckily while in the office with Alice, Tommy realized the security cameras were only for show and they didn’t work so no one could prove the good doctor was here tonight. Tommy is going to make it look as if the doctor met someone and ran off, it should be easy.*

*Tommy goes back into the room and removes his favorite shirt to put it in his suitcase, then shoves the suitcase back into the bathroom and gives the doctor a few minutes to wake up.*

Chapter 6

*Finally around 3 am, Richard starts to wake up and Tommy takes notice. With a sneer on his face and a bite in his tone, Tommy speaks,* “Howdy, Doc. How ya feelin’?”

*Richard groans and moves his head, slowly coming out from under the sedative.*

“Take your time.” *Tommy says with a smirk, watching as panic starts to set in for Richard.*

“What’s wrong? Scared?” *Tommy coos, his face pulled in a mocking pout as he fists his hand in the doctor's hair and snatches his back.*

“You don’t get to be scared, I hope you understand that. You don’t ***deserve*** to be scared, Richard. But you know what? I want you to feel it. I want you to feel what your wife feels, what your kids feel, what your *dog* feels.” *Tommy sneers angrily, he gives Richard a nasty tug on the hair after each word and briefly snaps his head back before he lets go.*

*All Richard can do is whine and give muffled shouts behind the gag, muffled pleas for mercy go unheard by an uncaring Tommy. Tears slowly fall down Richard’s face as he pleads, but Tommy doesn’t care for the pathetic man’s words and tears.*

“I’m sure your family and your dog whine and whimper too, but don’t worry. Don’t worry, Richard. Not at all. I’m going to free them tonight, free them of you forever. I am going to beat the shit out of you, carve the skin and muscle from your bones, then take your flesh and turn it into chum and toss it in the ocean, THEN I’m going to take your bones to that’s little abandoned crematorium you got shut down and burn your bones to ash and toss them into the ocean with your flesh.” *Tommy croons out, his voice as sweet as honey but as deadly as a vipers venom.*

*Richard chokes and gags on his cries and snot, tears running from the cowards eyes as he silently begs for mercy but Tommy gives none. Tommy has no mercy to give in this night, no care either.*

“Shut up.” *Tommy whispers and unties the man and makes him stand,* “Ok, I’m doing this because I like a fight, even though I’m sure you will give no fight.” *The young man growls and slams his fist into Dr. Dick’s jaw, connecting with a crack.*

*Richard’s head snaps to the side as he stumbles back to the floor but Tommy doesn’t let up, his foot slams up into Richard’s nose and blood gushes onto the plastic covered floor.*

“What’s wrong, Doc? Can’t fight back?” *Tommy says to Richard in a mocking tone, his voice saying it’s innocent and sweet when all it holds is death.*

“Please! Please! Don’t!” *Richard begs through the snot, blood, and tears but Tommy pays no mind and slams the bottom of his booted foot into the doctor's face and keeps going.*

“Fight. BACK!” *Tommy growls at the man on the fourth hit, now slamming his fist into Richard’s face. Finally Tommy grows tired of his fists and goes to fetch the knives and picks the sharpest one, soon coming back to loom over Richard.* “You ready, *Dick*?”

“P-pl-please…s-st-stop…” *Richard choked out through his beaten face, his body twitching in pain.*

“No.” *Tommy simply says and slashes the knife at Richard’s hand, the man cries out as his finger is nearly cut off.*

*Tommy kneels and whispers in Richard’s ear as the man lay on his side rocking back and forth, hand cradled to his chest.* “What’s wrong, Dickie? Does it hurt?”

*All Richard can do is whimper and sob, pain flaring through every inch of his body. He goes to speak but it’s cut off by a scream ripping from his throat as Tommy rams a knife in between his ribs, blood pooling around the blade as Tommy twists and snatches it out.*

“Bye-Bye.” *Tommy sneers at Richard and slams the knife into his torso over and over and over and over again, blood spraying onto Tommy and flying from the knife as he wrenches it out of Richard.*

*Tommy doesn’t stop, he can’t, not yet. He rams the knife into Richard’s skull, then he grabs another and slices at his face, then his throat, all Tommy can do is create marks along Richard, nothing but rage seeps into every swing of the knife. Every plunge, every twist, every snatch, every single move of the knife is motivated in rage.*

*Tommy is shaking violently as he rams the knife into Richard’s chest and roughly twists and pulls down, snatching the knife out and ramming his fist into what’s left of the Doctor’s mangled face and chest, like a gorilla finalizing the kill.*

*Finally after what seems like hours, Tommy sags to the floor. His bare torso is drenched in blood, his face and hair are also drenched in blood, his pants are beyond repair, as are his shoes.*

*The young man tilts his head to look at the standing mirror and sighs happily as he sees the blood soaked form looking back at him, his brain finally settling and slowing down as he lays there and stares around him.*

Chapter 7

*After a couple of hours, Tommy gets up and looks at the clock.* “7 am.” *The clock says in blue LEDs.*

“Shit.” *Tommy sighs as he starts to make a move for a different knife, a butcher’s knife, and starts to carve into Richard. Knife easily slicing through the flesh and muscle, throwing the chunks into bags as he went.*

*At 4 pm, Tommy is done carving Richard up and he quickly takes a shower and scrubs every inch of himself and goes to extend his stay a few days, charming the guy who now stands in the place of Alice.*

“Hey, could I extend my stay by about three days?” *Tommy asks the guy with a smooth and relaxed voice, his body lax from finally doing away with Richard.*

“Yeah, sure. Don’t see why not.” *The guy says with a red tint to his face, taking the cash Tommy gives him and blushing harder as the tall and relaxed man winks and walks away with a, “Thank you.”*

*Tommy goes back into his room and begins grabbing the bag with Richard’s remains, slowly and cautiously loading them into his trunk and then going back in to clean the room.*

*After hours of methodically cleaning every square inch, it’s finally done around 12 am that night. Luckily Tommy had put Richard’s remains in cooler bags with ice packs, keeping them cool and stopping the smell.*

*Tommy loads the bags into his trunk and drives off to the abandoned crematorium to do the next part of his plan, burn the bones to ash.*

*Tommy silently works as quickly as possible, preparing everything as needed and then getting started. The machine swells to life after Tommy hits the button with a gloved hand and he starts feeding it the cheapest coffin in the building he could find as well as Dr. Dick’s remains that he placed in the coffin minutes beforehand.*

*He works as quickly as possible and once he’s done, he starts to fish out the ashes. After two hours, Tommy runs from the building and walks back to his car. Once inside, he cranks the car and heads to the beach nearby and quietly slips onto one of the boats and takes it out into the middle of the water.*

*Once Tommy is there, he dumps the ashes and starts to tease the fish so they respond to the man. After an hour, the fish, and what Tommy could have sworn was a shark, have finished all the remains.*

“Thank god, I’m ready to go home.” *Tommy grunts in exhaustion, his body finally coming down from the adrenaline of it all and so he rows back and sneaks back off to his car.*

*Once in his car, Tommy grabs his phone and reads the time.* “5 am.” *Tommy sighs when he sees the blurry numbers and wastes no time in starting his car and pulling out from the curb, wasting no time in heading straight to the motel.*

Chapter 8

*Tommy sighs heavily once he gets back to the hotel and lands in the bed, his body begging and pleading for sleep.*

“I have got to reign that shit in, I can’t have that much to clean up every time.” *Tommy sighs to himself and stretches his body, letting it sink into the mattress as he quickly falls asleep.*

*Tommy takes the remaining days of his stay to be sure everything is spotless and disposed of, basically being anal and fussing over every tiny detail to be sure NOTHING is ever found.*

*When Tommy checks out, he’s sure to give the motel a five star rating as they deserve, throwing in an extra bonus for Alice saying how she’s ***very*** thorough and definitely needs to be paid more if she’s not already getting a higher salary.*

*He drives back home with a happy smile on his face, a body that isn’t tense and wound tight in every aspect, and a soul that’s soothed just a tad.*

“I’m home!” *Tommy calls as he comes inside the double wide, eyes landing on his parents almost right away when he steps past the laundry and mud room.*

“Did you have fun?” *Mary asks her son with a smile, her eyes and demeanor more relaxed than it was the day Tommy left.*

“Yeah, was the movie good? The motel?” *Steven chiming in after Mary, also looking more relaxed than a few or so days ago.*

*Tommy takes notice of it all and makes an ‘ew’ face as he understands the cause of their relaxed demeanor but he answers calmly, lighting the urge to gag.* “Yeah! It was good, actually. Good drive-in and good motel, left both a good review.”

*Both Mary and Steven smile and nod, pleased Tommy was kind enough to be sure the businesses got good reviews.*

“Good, now sit and let’s say Grace so we can eat.” *Mary says with a smile and finishes placing the food on the table, sitting in her chair on the opposite side of her husband and across from Tommy.*

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this food you have given us and thank you for keeping our son safe during his travels. We thank you for guiding him back home safely to us, as well. We thank you for all that you do for us and all that you give us, Amen.” *Steven says with a nod at the end to signal it’s time to eat and Tommy’s eyes open, a smile on the young man’s face and a soft hum escaping his mouth as he digs into the food.*

Epilogue

*It has been a year since Tommy began, what he likes to call, his purge of the wrong.*

*Each step is thought out, every scenario ran, but one day Tommy loses control and snaps on his old teacher after seeing the man get a bit too close to a minor.*

*The day after, Tommy is in the diner and he overhears a cop talking and his blood runs cold.*

“A murder in High Chapel, that’s rare. You think it’s connected to the disappearances?” *the female cop asks her partner in a hushed tone, taking a sip of her coffee to mask her words and mouth.*

“I don’t know, but we need to find out.” *He whispers back, a heavy sigh leaving his mouth.*

*The woman’s next words give Tommy pause and cause the young man to relax a bit, but only a bit.*

“Do we really? These people aren’t good people, they are people we have failed to catch and charge. I’d say we let it happen, help the unknown vigilante.” *She says with a shrug and clicks her tongue, taking her fork and biting into her pie.*

“You might be right.” *the guy whispers and slowly take a bite, his eyes drifting up and making eye contact with Tommy and giving him a nod and smile that causes Tommy to twist his head but relax.*

“Hmm, maybe it won’t be so bad after all.” *Tommy thinks silently to himself and looks out of the frosted over window, the streets getting dusted with snow as the holiday seasons draw to a close.* “Maybe one more to give the snow a pretty red backdrop.”

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

Leo & Marcel's Storytime

Hello again, we are back with our favorite Corvid and Rodentia but this time it's a tad different.   

It’s a beautiful, sunny day and all of the children are outside playing. You can hear the stampede of little ones running up and down the way, cheering as one would score a goal and now let's travel away from the cheering children and to our friends across the field.  

It is qu-” Ouch! Sorry Marcel!”-well, as you can see, I spoke too soon.  

Marcel sighed and chuckled, “Its fine, Leo but do be more careful!”  

Leo beamed, “I can try but I’m excited! Marion, Thomas, Primrose, Vera, and Alice are coming on a picnic with us, and they said they would tell stories!”  

Marcel Laughed, “If you don't quit falling you won’t be hearing anything except Marion yelling at you for getting hurt!”  

Leo huffed but slowed down, “You know, you're beginning to sound like my mothers, Marcel.”  

Marcel squawked, “Your mothers had a point Leo, you need to slow down before you get seriously hurt. Marion, Thomas, and the others will eventually need help, Leo and I cannot be the only one helping them.”  

Leo sighed, “I know, Marcel and you're right, I need to slow down and top rushing things.”  

Marcel gave a smile, “Good, now enough serious talk and let's hurry! They're already there!” and with that Marcel picked up Leo and took to the skies.  

*One long and wild flight later*  

Marcel dropped Leo onto the blanket and landed beside him, Leo stumbled up, “Marcel, what on earth was that?”  

Marcel softly chuckled, “Your legs are quite small, so I thought it best to carry you!”  

Leo stared at Marcel wide-eyed, “Without the carrier?”  

Marcel snickered, “I thought you liked danger, Leo?”  

And with that the older folks behind them cracked up, due to Leos look of insanity.  

Marion finally caught her breath enough to speak, “Boys, how about we sit, eat, and tell some stories, yes?”  

Leo and Marcel looked at each other in silent agreement, nodded, and together said, “Yes! Let's!”  

So, the boys sat down and surveyed the setting in front of them; Lettuce, Beans, Chicken, Cheesy Pasta, Mashed Potatoes, and Tomato Gravy,   

No one has ever really asked how Marion knew how to cook tomato gravy and to be quite honest, they certainly were not going to complain because it was delicious!  

They all grabbed a plate full, sat back, and ate their food.  

Eventually Leo spoke up, “Marion, what are the stories you wanted to tell us?”  

Marion smiled softly, white crooked whiskers twitching, “Well, what do you want to hear, young one?”  

Leo grew thoughtful, he had been thinking an awful lot about his parents so that's what he wanted to hear. He smiled and answered, “Can you all tell us about my parents?”  

Marion smiled, “Well Leo, to tell you about your parents we must start from the beginning. How about that?”  

Leo became thoughtful and soon saw reason in Marion's way of thinking, “Alright! You lot can tell us about it all from the very beginning!”  

Marion smiled and Thomas spoke up, “Crazy old bats they were and the ones that are here are still crazy!”  

Marion, Vera, Primrose, and Alice all whipped their heads around at the sound of Thomas and let out a resounding, “Shut up, you withered old-!” They stopped themselves before they could say what they really wanted to say, especially in front of the two boys who they really viewed as children.  

Marion gave her husband one last glare and turned to the boys, “Now, let's start before the old buffoon can chime in again.”  

The boys chuckled knowing exactly what was going to be said but agreed anyway.  

Marion began, “Let's see, how long ago has it been now?”  

Thomas gave a look, “72 years, you old lovable loon.”  

Marion gave him a loving and slight “Don’t start look” and continued, “Ah yes, 72 years ago...  

*72 years ago, 1952*  

“6 wailing pups came into the world and their names were-”  

*Record scratch*  

Thomas snorted, “They know your-OW! And you don’t have to speak like that!”  

After Marion gave Thomas a right good whack, she continued but through gritted teeth and a glare at first, “I can and will. Now, where was I? Oh yes, ...  

*1952*  

“-named Vera, Marion, Primrose, Alice, Hyacinth, and Therese.  They were the tiniest pups when they were born and the second, they were brought home, their parents introduced them.  From the beginning they were inseparable, they all played together, took naps together, and at 5 years old, started school together.  Hyacinth was always the leader, she was determined to impress with her bravery.  Skint knees, bruised elbows, dirt all over, she was something else when she was younger, but Therese always made sure to protect Hyacinth, even as tots.  They were inseparable even then and always were, no matter what." 

*1957*  

"Now, don’t get fooled Hyacinth always seemed brave but she wasn’t. She had fears upon fears, and she was bullied in school at first.   School was hard for them at first, some of them were separated into different classes than the other girls but as the year progressed it got easier.   Now that doesn’t mean they didn’t miss each other but spending time apart got easier, except for Hyacinth and Therese. Those two didn’t fare well with the separation, each time they got to school they would cry and cling to each other at first but would eventually separate.”  

*Present time*  

“They were wise to not put all of us together, we would have drove the teacher mad!” Marion and the girls cackled at that.  

Thomas grumbled, “What happened to third person?”  

Marion cast him a look, “I can switch, you old coot, now hush.”  

*1957*  

“Day after day none of us ever grew apart, we stuck together like glue, even as the years progressed none of us ever waivered in our loyalty to one another, especially Hyacinth and Therese...”  

*Present day*  

Marion took a deep breath and gathered herself, sometimes remembering those two and those times made her cry, “I miss them with every breath, they were the light of everything. Ahem, where were we...”   

Marion once again continued with the story after Thomas gave her a tissue and slipped his hand into hers, he knew exactly how much they all missed them, even he missed those two dearly.  

*1962, 10 years old*  

“Now as we grew older, we were discovering more but not just about the world but about ourselves, especially Hyacinth and Therese.  More attached than ever, they spent as much time as they could together.  One day, Hyacinth had gotten severely injured and when Therese heard about it, she panicked and ran straight to Hyacinth's house, not even stopping to catch her breath.  She was there every single day, rain or shine, and they grew even closer. By the time Hyacinth healed they were closer to each other than they were with the rest of us and of course we didn't mind, we were simply happy that our friend was ok.”  

*1967, 15 years old*  

“Now, we all suspected something by then but said nothing because that wasn't our place, so we kept quiet and watched as it grew worse.  By 15 we had started dating, especially Therese. Now let me tell you, Hyacinth wasn’t happy with Thereses’ boyfriend, she hated his guts so much so that her and Therese had a go at it.   Things were said and declarations were made, but Therese wasn’t ready to accept her feelings and said so later, but throughout all of this their loyalty to each other never wavered.”  

*Present time*  

Vera chimed in, “We were just happy things didn’t come to blows completely! We would have been devastated!”  

That got an agreement from all of the women and so Marion continued...  

*1972*  

“Things had settled in the next 5 years, we had all went to college and met our other halves while there, all except for Hyacinth and Therese, they stayed single all throughout that period of time.  On Christmas break, we were all home visiting our families and each other. It looked like things were going to be great, and we were right.   That night Hyacinth asked Therese if they could speak, we all tensed at first not knowing what was going to happen and so naturally we spied on them from the window.  Hyacinth dragged Therese outside and then a serious conversation was had, we could tell it was serious because of their body language and pinched expressions.  It was going and going and next thing we knew, we heard Hyacinth shout, “Say something! Anything! Just please say something!”  And then Therese surged forward and grabbed Hyacinth by the lapels on her jacket and kissed her and we couldn’t help but cheer, although that did interrupt them, but it was fine they snuck plenty of kisses later.”  

*Present day*  

Marion smiled remembering that day, “They never really argued but when they did it was always resolved within 2 minutes. They were the epitome of true love; they still are even though they are no longer physically with us. Remember them Leo, you will always have stories of them in the things you see and the people they touched.”  

Leo was crying by the time the story was over, “Thank you! ALL of you. Thank you for keeping my parent's memory alive and making sure I never forget them.”  

They continued talking for a while before it was time to part, they all said their goodbyes and gave lots of hugs to soothe the pain of missing the two women.  

After the elders had left, Leo turned to Marcel, “Marcel, can I stay with you tonight?”  

Marcel smiled gently, knowing Leo didn’t want to be alone he agreed. They got their beds ready and climbed in, Leo spoke, “Goodnight, Marcel and thank you for being my brother.”  

Marcel made a soft noise, “Thank you, Leo. Thank you for accepting me into your life and allowing me to be your brother. Goodnight, Leo.”  

Both boys drifted off to sleep with smiles on their faces and Leo dreaming of his parents and at the same time across the field, Marion was holding a picture, “Goodnight, my friends. I will protect that boy for as long as I am able and I’m sure you would love Marcel. I’ll sit down one day and tell you all about their adventures!”  

With that Marion placed a gentle kiss upon the picture and smiled as she set it on the nightstand once again and in that moment, Thomas spoke, “C’mere, my love.” And he held Marion close and said his own goodnights to Hyacinth and Therese, thanking them for protecting Marion all those years and helping him win this amazing woman over.  

Everyone's in bed, even the children. They had their baths and their stories and now it's time to sleep.  

Goodnight and until next time! 

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

Leo & Marcel's Christmas Adventure

Here we are again with our favorite Corvid and Rodentia, on an adventure. But let us hope they bundled up for this one, it is quite nippy out.  

Back in the countryside, it is a beautiful day, a little cold but beautiful Christmas eve. Snow covering the ground, the shrieks and laughter of the children as they play in the snow, the adults congregated together enjoying some hot tea, all is well within the human aspect but let us check on the animals.  

We travel across the yard and into the cornfield and we settle upon quite a shocking sight. Leo, the clumsy mouse, has himself in quite a predicament.  

We can hear Marcel laughing behind him having just come upon the sight of the tiny mouse face down in the snow, “Leo! What have you done now, you silly mouse?”  

Leo had not heard his found brother from all the snow covering his head, mumbling, “Stupid lights, stupid snow, clumsy me!”  

Marcel listened to Leo as he continued to rant and eventually taking pity on the tiny field mouse, he hopped on over and dragged him out of the snow. “Now!” said Marcel, “Would you like to tell me what lead up to this, my tiny brother?”  

Leo sighed and mumbled something under his breath, Marcel barely hearing a word of what was said. Marcel sighed, “Speak up, Leo.”  

Leo groaned, “Fine! I may have been on top of my house trying to fix the lights, I did not realize that there was still a part of them lying on the ground and when I climbed down the ladder and stepped back, I tripped on said lights.”  

Marcel behind him chuckling softly said, “Why didn’t you wait for me, you silly mouse? I was on my way.”  

Leo sighed, “I was in a hurry to get it done because I wanted to show you the lights up close. You’ve have never seen the lights of Morelock up close and I wanted them to be ready for when you arrived.”  

Marcel, once again moved by the kindness of his found brother, smiled, “Let me help you hang this last strand and then I will bask in the beauty I have seen from a distance for all these years, yes?”  

Leo smiled, “Always the helper, aren't you?”  

Marcel lest out a bashful chuckle, “That I am, Leo. Now, what do you say, hm?”  

Leo grinned, “Alright, let's go then you slow bird.”  

As Leo and Marcel worked to hang the last strand of Leos lights, they did not notice someone watching them from afar. Marion, the old and worn mouse, watched fondly as the two darlings of Morelock worked together, smiling softly Marion muttered to herself, “Thank you, God. Thank you for allowing these two gentle souls to find each other.”  

“Marion! Quit being such a nosey old woman and come help your withered husband!” Shouted Thomas  

Marion whipped around and glared at Thomas, “You keep that up, old fart and you'll earn my foot up your bum!”  

Thomas went inside with his head hung low and muttered, “Nosey bat.”  

Marion heard what he said but decided to give him a chance to correct himself, “What was that, my dear husband?”  

Thomas winced knowing he had been caught, “Nothing, my dear!”  

Marion smirked and hummed to herself, “You still got it, old girl.”   

Watching through her window at the two darlings of Morelock work together, she became thoughtful, and Thomas noticed the look and ached to know what had been causing his wife pain for the last month.  

Carefully approaching his wife and laying a hand upon her shoulder, “What's bothering you, my love?”  

Marion sighed and nodded out of the window and towards the two boys hard at work. Thomas peered at them but still could see nothing wrong except for two boys having fun, he looked to Marion once more and asked, “What about them, my darling?”  

Marion with sad eyes turned to look at her husband, “Both of those boys have lost their families, they have no one except each other and while they have each other I so wish that neither had to know the pain of not having their families during the holiday season.”  

Thomas hummed in agreement and had an idea, “Send the boys out while all of us of Morelock prepare something! Send them to get the tree that you know who forgot while the rest of us prepare the feast.”  

Marion, shocked that her husband had working brain cells lit up like...well, like a Christmas tree, “Yes! That is what we d-” she halted in the middle of the sentence and sighed, “We forgot one detail, Thomas.”  

Thomas puzzled as ever asked, “What's that?”  

Marion looked at him, “Leo has not come to a feast in two years, you buffoon!”  

His brain finally sparked once again, “Oh, right. Well, we must trick them then! While we prepare the feast, they get the tree and once they bring back the tree, we just send them on random errands! We send them around to everyone collecting different items and once done, we send them home for the night!”  

Marion, once again shocked, looked at her husband, “What about getting them to THE BLOODY FEAST?”  

Thomas thought for a second, let us be real, a good few minutes and said, “We just ask them to do one more errand.”  

Marion, confused by her husband as always, “What KIND of errand do we send them on when its CHRISTMAS DAY, YOU LOVEABLE MORON?”  

Thomas once again having to think, “Berries! We send them to get some berries saying we forgot.”  

Marion looked at him and then back to the boys who were currently rolling around in the snow, she smiled, “Well, let us get started! We have an exceptionally long day ahead.”  

So, with that Marion and Thomas parted ways to tell the town's gossip queens to spread the word of what is to be done, and once they finished, they met back up in front of their home. Thomas hobbled over, “I am done with Primrose. Are you done with Vera?”  

Marion thought of saying something smart but decided to be nice to her husband, “Yes, I am done. Vera was in a talking mood as usual, so I had to make a quick escape when she got distracted.”  

Thomas snickered, “A new boy toy pass by the old bitty?”  

Marion cackled, “Yes, actually. She is going to corner the poor man under a mistletoe.”  

Thomas shivered but not because of the cold, “Godspeed to the man!”  

The old couple shared a laugh and walked over to Leo and Marcel; Marion smiled at the scene in front of her and looked at her husband who was smiling just as big. Marion looked back at the boys and shouted, “Boys, come here for a minute! Two old mice would like to have a word with you.”  

Marcel shouted out, “Yes, Madam!”  

Leo and Marcel scrambled over to greet the elderly couple and Leo said, “Hello Marion, Thomas! To what do we owe the pleasure?”  

Marion smiled softly, “As you know, Alice forgot the tree and we have all just been too busy to really remedy that issue. We were wondering if you two could get the tree for us?”  

Marcel squawked, “Us?”  

Thomas laughed softly, “Yes, the both of you.”  

Leo looked perplexed and was about to ask as to why the couple wanted them to do it but Marcel, being the helper he is, spoke up before Leo could ask, “Of course we’ll do it!”  

Marion grinned at them, “Thank you, boys!”  

And with that Marion and Thomas walked off and as they walked away Thomas mumbled to Marion under his breath, “I’m shocked that worked!”  

Marion was just as shocked, “Yes, luckily Marcel spoke before Leo asked his question.”  

As the older couple made their way back home, Leo turned to Marcel, “Why us? Why does Marion want US to do it?”  

Marcel shrugged his wings, “I don’t know, but let us get going, it may not be far but it's still cold out.”  

And with that they set off towards the trees, and of course Leo, being as clumsy as he is, trips and faceplants in the snow once again.  

Marcel lets out a squawk of laughter, “You just may be the clumsiest mouse in the world! HA!”  

Leo gets up with a laugh, “I won't deny that it's impossible too.”  

They walk deeper within the trees and start looking, “The tree must be perfect, Leo. I mean it, do not play about, and get distracted.” Marcel spoke about 5yrds out from where Leo stood gawking at all the trees.  

Leo finally snapped out of it, “Of course, you are right. No playing is to be had, they trust us to pick out a tree and perfect it must be.”  

They looked and looked, and while they looked Primrose and Vera had already told everyone in Morelock.  

Primrose and Vera had smiles upon their faces as they greeted each other, “Ello, Vera.” “Morning, Primrose!” and with that they walked into the building that is used to hold the annual feast.  

As soon as they walked in, it was CHAOS. They surveyed the area and looked at each other and came to a silent agreement. Vera let out a sharp whistle as Primrose yelled, “ENOUGH! We are to do this in a calm and orderly fashion so it can be done by morning! Now, when I say your name, you say here, and Vera will direct you to your stations. Understood?”  

A chorus of yeses were heard throughout the building, due to fear of the two elderly women. And so it began, the long day of preparing the decorations and the two boys' favorite foods for the day ahead. Vera shooed off Alice back to her house to wait for the boys because once they bought the tree back, they are to be sent to the market to get some ingredients for Alices famous fruit cake.  

Back in the woods Leo and Marcel were having a time finding the right tree, Leo was getting anxious, and Marcel was growing tired. Marcel looked to Leo and said, “I have an idea! You wait below and check the smell of the tree while I check the limbs.”  

Leo looked confused, “What will that accomplish?”  

Marcel chirped softly, “The stronger the smell and stronger the limbs, the healthier the tree is! It will last longer and hold the decorations much better.”  

It finally clicked for Leo and that is what was done, they went around multiple trees checking their worth. It took them an hour, but it was worth it. They picked out the most beautiful tree anyone has ever seen. They set to work chopping it down and dragging it back to town and once they got the tree to its destination, they were greeted by Vera getting a tad handsy with Gregory, one of the younger local farmers.  

Marcel snickered, “Getting a bit rough with Greg, are we now Miss. Vera?”  

Vera jumped and Greg made a quick escape, “Shoot! Oh well, it’s a pleasant view from behind as well. What can I do for you-Oh! The tree! Oh, and it is incredibly beautiful, boys. Well done! Now, why don’t you boys run off to the market for Alice and pick up some ingredients she needs for her fruit cake. Here is the list, now run along!”  

The two boys looked at each other but didn’t say a single word and walked off in the direction of the market. It continued like that all day, running here and there not a single break was had except to eat and drink but they even did that as they walked.  

Once all was said and done by the end of the day the two were exhausted and in need of a good night's sleep. They said their goodbyes and goodnights to everyone, and Marcel walked Leo to his home as usual.  

Once they got to the door Marcel looked at Leo, “What was that all about?”  

Leo, just as confused, said, “I don’t know but it was definitely strange!”  

Marcel let out a tired laugh, “Yes, I suppose it was. Well, I'll bid you a goodnight, brother. I hope you have a good sleep and wonderful dreams.”  

Leo smiled, “You as well, my feathered brother.”  

They went their separate ways for the night, both excited for the morning. They didn’t know it, but they had both gotten each other a gift. Leo made Marcel a new stick to hunt with and Marcel made Leo a bowl for nicknacks, and with their minds and bodies worn out they drift off to sleep in their beds.  

Christmas Morning  

Both boys were extremely excited to get together and give each other the gifts they made. As Marcel landed in front of Leos home, he saw Leo already making his way out. They both had something colorful with them and neither knew what exactly to say to one another, so they said nothing as they silently exchanged gifts.  

Leo opened his present first and said with teary eyes and a shaky voice, “Is this-Marcel, you remembered! Thank you!”  

Marcel opened his next, he gasped in awe, “Leo, you made me a stick to hunt with! And I can even bend it like I want! Thank you!’  

With that the two boys gave tearful laughs and hearty hugs and settled down in Leo's yard. Marcel spoke up, “So, what are we going to do-” just as Marcel was about to finish his sentence, Marion came over.  

Huffing and puffing a bit Marion spoke up, “Boys, I hate to bother you, but we forgot the berries yesterday. Do you think you could get them?”  

Leo, knowing what a staple the berries were readily agreed, “Yes, Miss. Marion. Of course, we will get them!”  

Marion smiled softly with a twinkle in her eyes, “Thank you, boys and please, be careful!”  

They watched her scurry off back into her home and Marcel spoke smugly, “Now look who's ready to help.”  

Leo rolled his eyes playfully as they started walking, “The berries are a staple in the feast, Marcel. You can’t go along without the berries.”  

Marcel made a slight noise in understanding, and they continued in silence and stopping here and there to toss snow at one another and just simply be in the moment and enjoy one another's company. They finally got to the berries and set to work picking them, it took a bit to get all they needed and took back off towards town.  

Back in Morelock, we see Thomas, Marion, Vera, and Primrose putting the finishing touches on everything. Everyone was gathered around the table waiting for the two special guests. Vera was lighting the last candle when she heard bouts of laughter coming from outside that could only belong to the two special guests.  

Vera scrambled and quietly hissed, “Shush! They are here, get settled and ready.”  

As the boys grew closer, they smelled something, well many somethings, delicious. They recognized the smells well, for it was all their favorite foods. They carefully approached the door and Leo pushed it open and they were met with a loud yell of, “Surprise!”  

Leo and Marcel stopped, Marcel spoke up in a shaky voice, “What's this for?”  

Marion approached the gentle bird and playful mouse and said, “I have seen you, Leo, become a brave man in the face of everything but ever since that day you have been closed off and shut away. I wish you to join us once again in the festivities and you, Marcel. Oh sweet, gentle boy, you have gained friends in us but in the process lost family and we wish for you to know that WE are your family now. What do you say boys, care to join us?”  

Leo and Marcel glanced at each other and came to a silent realization that while they were never alone as long as they had each other they could open another space for more family in their hearts and lives. They looked back at everyone and then to Marion and said, “Yes!” and so with that everyone cheered.  

Thomas being the withered old mouse he is spoke, “Alright, enough or I'm going to cry or get a cavity one. Let’s eat!”  

Marion looked about ready to smack him once but said nothing in the spirit of Christmas and grabbed the boys and joined in. Overall, she would say it was a success. Everyone loved the food and beverages, especially Vera. By the end of the night that woman had poor Greg cornered and was gyrating her old hips the best she could on the poor man. She was DRUNK! Thomas took one look at poor Greg and muttered, “May god have mercy on you.” and raised his glass in a silent gesture and downed the rest of the wine that was in there.  

Leo and Marcels thoughts were like Marions, it was a success and a fun day. They had food and wine and most importantly, they had fun. Leo rediscovered the joys of the feast once again and Marcel discovered more family, not blood but still family. By the end of the night, they took it upon themselves to carry Vera home and they could hear a drunk echo of Primrose calling out, “Night, Vera!” and Vera slurred back, “Goodnight, Primerose!”  

Primrose halted and muttered to herself, “Primrose? Who is Primrose?” she thought for a moment, and it dawned on her, “OH! It’s me.” and she stumbled home cackling.  

Leo and Marcel got Vera to settle in her home and met up with Marion and Thomas on the way back to Leo’s home. Leo spoke, “Thank you for today. Thank you for all you did for us.” and Marcel readily backed up his brother, “Yes, thank you. I haven’t had a true family in a while and so for all of you, I am eternally grateful.”  

The older couple smiled, and Marion said, “You boys deserve family and fun, I am glad we could give it to you. Goodnight, my boys. Sleep well.” and with Thomas echoing his wife's statement they went home.  

Leo and Marcel smiled and went on their way as well and once arriving at Leos home, they bid each other a goodnight and good dreams.  

In their separate homes Thomas and Marion, Vera, Primrose, Leo, and Marcel settled down for the night,  

Marcel muttered to the stars, “Thank you for giving me my family. Goodnight all and goodnight to you, dear brother. Sleep well.”  

Leo hummed and snuggled down, “Thank you for showing me the joys of the holidays once again and for giving me my family. Goodnight all and goodnight, dear brother. Sleep well.”  

Vera muttering in her sleep, “Take it off. Show me what you got, Greg!”  

Primrose with not a single thought in her head is already fast asleep dreading the hangover she is expecting in the morning.  

Marion and Thomas, under their covers and all warm. Marion turns to Thomas, “We did good, didn’t we?” and Thomas said, “Yes, my love. Yes, we did. Goodnight, my dear.” Marion smiled gently at her husband and placed a kiss on his cheek, “Goodnight, my darling fool.”  

And with that everyone went to bed, all settled, nice, and warm. We take a look at the humans, and they seem to have had a good day as well. The children are settled in bed with their toys and the adults finally getting the peace they deserve from this hectic but good day. Everyone seems to be happy and calm, and so we leave them be for the night and settle in ourselves. But do not worry, there is more to come. Goodnight and sleep well. 

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

Leo & Marcel's Halloween Adventure!

Here we are again with our favorite Rodentia and Corvid, on an adventure.  

Back in the countryside, it’s a beautiful fall day. There is a gentle breeze rolling through, rustling corn, sending the leaves on an adventure themselves, and we see it gently tousling the children’s hair as they run about their day preparing for the fun ahead. Now, let us head to Leo’s house because he is buzzing with energy on this beautiful day.  

As we get closer to Leo’s home, we hear a “WHOOP!” from within. Peering in we see the silly little mouse lay flat on his bum. Why, you ask? Well, from tripping over his costume of course! You see today is Halloween, and little Leo has a plan. I know you are curious as to what he is going to be, but we will get to that in a bit, oh curious one.  

He removes his costume, looks around, and starts to think aloud, “Now, let us see if I have all I need. Ok, #1. My bag for all delicious berries we shall get tonight, check. #2. My costume, check. #3. My jacket, in case it gets a bit nippy, check. Well, I do believe I have everything!”  

As he makes his way to the door, he remembers something, “Marcel’s costume!” he shouts. He runs and gets it. Smiling proudly, he says to himself, “Wait till Marcel sees this!”  

Leo finally makes his way out of the door, and in his excitement, he accidently slams it shut and he hears a thud from inside, he winces and thinks, “Well, I’ll fix that tomorrow.”  

He darts across the field as fast as he can, bobbing and weaving through the corn stalks dragging along quite a large sack for such a little mouse. As he gets closer to the clearing, he sees Marcel, but Marcel seems upset. Leo quietly wonders as to why Marcel seems so sad as he carefully approaches his feathered friend.  

Leo softly speaks, “Marcel?’  

Marcel whispers, “Yes.”  

Leo softly asks his friend, “Why are you sad?”  

Marcel chuckles and says, “You really don’t know subtly, you know.”  

Leo furrows his eyebrows, “Of course not. I really prefer direct questions and even more so, direct answers. So, would you please tell me as to why you are so upset?”  

Marcel sighs sadly, “I can’t go trick-or-treating with you.”  

Leo halts, eyebrows pinching in sadness and stutters, “W-why?”  

Marcel also halts and he furrows his eyebrows, and he speaks in an exasperated tone, “W-why?! You really ask why?!”  

Leo goes to speak, “Ye- “  

Marcel cuts him off and shouts in a heartbroken voice, “Leo, you really must ask that question?! You know why! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT WHO I AM!”  

Leo says carefully, “I know not what you mean, Marcel. Truly I do not.”  

Marcel gives him a ludicrous look as tears fill his eyes and his voice drops to a whisper, “D-do you not see who I am?! Do you not see the way they fear me?! Do you not see any of it?!”  

It clicks in Leo’s brain as to what Marcel is talking about. Leo carefully approaches and whispers, “Of course I see who you are, Marcellus, I see it all.”  

Marcel stares at Leo for a bit, then he says, “Then why do you ask such a question?”  

Leo sighs fondly, “Because what and who I see does not match with others. Marcel, I see my frie- no, not my friend. I see my brother when I look at you and only my brother, Marcellus. Not "The Dark One", just my brother.”  

Marcel gasps sharply and tears gather, “Oh.”  

Leo panics as tears start to slowly fall from Marcel’s eyes, “O-oh! I-I am so sorry, Marcel. I am terribly sorry!”  

Marcel asks in a wet voice, “Why are you sorry, Leo?”  

Leo, who is very confused, states, “Well, I-I made you cry, I never meant to make you cry.”  

Marcel lets out a wet laugh, “Oh. These are happy tears, you silly little mouse.”  

Leo lets out a soft sigh of relief, rubs the back of his neck, looks down, and laughs sheepishly, “Oh. I uh” he clears his throat and looks up, “I guess I really need to learn cues, huh?”  

Marcel gently bows his head and softly shakes it, “No, no you do not. You are perfect as is, my fluffy brother.”  

Leo beams, “Well, in that case, so are you!”  

Marcel smiles softly, “Thank you.”  

Leo grows serious, “Marcel, I want you to look at me and listen. Listen very carefully to every word.”  

Marcel looks up and directly at Leo, he says in a confused tone, “Ok, I will listen.”  

Leo takes a breath and then starts, “Marcel, it should never matter what I or others think about you. I know it helps but-but it should only matter what you think of yourself. Marcel, you are positively wonderful, but that is my opinion. No one’s opinion matters but your own; your own is all that ever matters. Oh Marcel, how I wish you see yourself as I see you, not how those uneducated simpletons see you. No one’s opinion matters but your own when it comes to yourself. You are perfect as is, Dear Brother. Always have been, always will be.”   

Marcel, tears dripping down his beak, gasps, “T-Thank y-you, Leo-o. Honestly and truly thank you.”  

Leo smiles and gently approaches Marcel, “Can I hug you?”  

Marcel lets out a relieved and happy laugh, “Of course!”  

Leo wraps his little arms around Marcel as best he can and looks up, “Wow, I really am tiny.”   

Marcel lets out a hearty laugh, “Yes, yes you are!”  

Leo pulls back, “Now, how about it? Are you up for some fun?”  

Marcel thinks, smiles, and says, “Yes, I do believe I am. Now, what will be our costumes?”  

Leo whoops with glee and excitedly says, “Ok, you are going to be a warlock! While I am going to be a ghost! What do you think?”  

Marcel is now quite excited as well, “Well, let’s see what you have!”  

Leo smiles and digs through the sack and drags out a hat he made and a stick he found that would be a perfect staff and places them in front of Marcel, “What do you think?”  

Marcel squawks happily, “I love it! Now, let us see yours!”  

Leo drags out his costume and puts it on, “What do you think?”  

Marcel snickers slightly, “Well, #1. Is your bed sheet ruined? #2. It is a bit long. #3. I love it!”  

Leo giggles slightly, “Ok, yes, it is my bed sheet. Yes, it is a bit long, I must admit. No laughing, but I have already tripped over it several times.”  

Marcel could not help but let out a small giggle, “Of course you did.”  

Leo rushes to the hat, “Well, what are we waiting for?! Let me place this just so…AHA! There! Perfect fit if I do say so myself!”  

Marcel watches as Leo beams and gives a chuckle of his own, “You know, it is. Leo, silly question I know, but…did you measure my head while I slept?”  

Leo looks at him pondering what to say. He then speaks unsurely, “….Nooooo?”  

Marcel gives him a playful look, “Leo, be honest. Did you measure my head while I slept?”  

Leo lets out a playful dramatic huff, “Okay, fine. I did. Are you happy? But how else was I supposed to get it just right?!”  

Marcel giggles, “Oh Leo, you truly are something.”  

Leo laughs, “I know! Now, let us go! We have a long, fun night ahead!  

Marcel chuckles and grabs his staff within his beak and watches Leo take off before, of course, tripping over his sheet. Marcel drops his staff and lets out a squawk of laughter, “OH! Leo! Are you ok?”  

Leo giggles and dusts himself off, “Yes, I’m alright!”  

Marcel lets out a fond huff, “You silly little mouse.”  

Leo smiles and climbs in the sack, so it will not take as long getting back to the field, “Alright! I am ready, Marcel!”  

Marcel carefully picks up the sack holding his frien-no, his brother and takes off. When they arrive, there are gasps heard amongst the other animals, murmuring is heard, “Oh no! He has grabbed Leonardo!”  

Leo pops out before anything else can be said, “No, you old bat! He does not have me, if anything I have him!”  

Marcel gasps, “Leo! Be nice to your elders!”  

Leo huffs, “Why?”  

Marcel sighs, “Because, you silly mouse, it will keep your bum from getting a right good whack.”  

Leo rolls his eyes and looks towards the lady and can see she is torn between being offended at what Leo said to her and Marcel’s willingness to stick up for her. She carefully approaches him and speaks unsurely, “What’s your name, young bird?”   

Marcel looks shocked and says, “Marcellus, ma’am. But you can call me Marcel.”  

The old and worn mouse stares at Marcel and realizes they have been quite wrong this whole time, he was not “The Dark One”, in fact he was much more respectable and kinder than Leo. “But really, Marion, it is not Leo's fault he is harsh. He just likes honesty and does not necessarily realize how much it can hurt someone.” she thinks to herself  

She carefully walks a bit closer and smiles softly,” Well, I do believe we have room for one more, young Marcel.” She then turns and eyeballs the crowd, “Don’t we? Hmm?”  

A collective yes breaks out because honestly, while they realize they were very wrong about the bird, they are also scared of their town elder. That old mouse rules with an iron fist and what she says goes, or else. But she was also truly kind and caring, and she is also learning to be accepting of differences. They all are, honestly.  

Marcel looks towards Leo for confirmation and Leo speaks up, “Well, you want to join?”  

Marcel glances back at the crowd and back to Leo, lets out a happy chirp, “Most definitely!”  

So, join the festivities they did. They had a fun filled night of games and treats, and by the end they were exhausted. Marcel flew Leo home and they bid each other a goodnight, and as they settled in for bed, they each had their own happy thoughts.  

Leo sighed happily, “Goodnight, my silly feathered brother. I hope you sleep well and thank you for being in my life.”  

Across the field, on his perch Marcel settled in and smiled at the sky, “Goodnight, my silly ball of fluff brother. Sleep well and thank you for being in my life.”  

With both Leo and Marcel drifting off to sleep we zoom out to get a full view of all. The town is quiet and peaceful as are the children that were also having their own festivities. The animals and humans are all in harmony during the peace the night brings. Sleep well, all of you because there is more fun to come. 

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

The Adventures of Leo & Marcel

 

Well, here we are again back with our favorite Rodentia and Corvid, on an adventure.  

Back in the countryside, we take a look across the corn field. The children run along to school, none the wiser of what truly lies inside. As we travel through the maze of corn, we come across a little house along the edge of the field, and inside that house sits our good friend, Leo.  

As Leo sits looking out of his window on this dark and dreary day, watching as the humans go by splashing as they run giggling through the puddles. He can't help but let out a sigh, "Why did it have to rain today of all days?"   

You see, today little Leo was going to go meet up with Marcel in their little section of field, but those chances are incredibly low, at least according to Leo. As Leo continues to watch the feet connect the ground as they run by, we make our way over to Marcellus.  

"Well, this is unfortunate." says Marcel, as he watches the rain droplets start to fall from the sky once again.  

As Marcel perches on his favorite branch under a smattering of leaves as he thinks of how to salvage this day, he sees a section of tree a bit off in the distance, "I got it!" Marcel shouted.  

As Marcel takes off for the trees, determined to salvage this rainy day, we make our way back over to Leo. Here he is, still moping around not knowing what Marcel has in store for him.  

Just when Leo was going to give up and go and curl up in his chair and read, he hears something, *Tink* *Tink* *Tink*.  

He looks out and he sees little pieces of rock being thrown at his window. In his rush to see who was throwing rocks at his window he forgets his still in his underclothes, but sure enough as soon as he comes bursting outside to see he gets drenched.  

Leo standing there looking quite stunned slowly looks down at himself and mutters a simple, "Oh."  

His eyes travel up upon hearing soft chuckles from above and as he sees the intruder he speaks, "and what are you laughing at, you clumsy bird?"  

There stands Marcel softly chucking at the sight before him, "Well, I'm laughing at you, you silly mouse. Now, go inside, dry off, and get dressed. I wish to show you something."  

Leo sighed but as he was told. Once he was all dry and dressed, he came back, but this time he thought to bring his umbrella, "I'm not making that mistake again." he mutters.  

"Now, what did you want to show me?" Leo asks Marcel.  

Marcel spoke, "Well you have to come with me in order to see, Leo."   

Leo gave the bird a funny little look, "How'd you think I'm supposed to do that?"  

Marcel puffed up proudly, "I am going to carry you."  

Leo blanched, "You what?!"  

"Do not panic, little friend. Look, I found this. It's a bag so you can climb inside of it and stay dry and safe." Marcel spoke.  

"Oh." Leo simply said.  

As Marcel waited, he was thinking, "Oh you dumb bird, of course he doesn't want to fl-" he was halted mid thought at hearing the next exclamation.  

"Let's do it!" Leo shouted as he climbed his way into the bag and got settled.  

Marcel gave a happy squawk and flap of his wings as he carefully picked up his precious cargo and flew off. Meanwhile in the bag, Leo wonders what this wonderful bird has done now as he slowly drifts off to sleep with a gentle smile upon his face.  

Five minutes later, Leo awakens with a start as he is jostled upon landing. He speaks, "Have we arrived yet, Marcel?"  

"Yes, yes we have, my friend." Marcel speaks proudly.  

As Leo peaks out from the confines of his warm bag he sees something that shocks him, in a good way of course. He sees a little shelter made of sticks and leaves, he's in awe.  

Leo asks Marcel, "Yo-you did this?"   

"Yes. I still wanted to have our day, so I came here and set this up." Marcel speaks proudly.  

"But…we can't play anything, it's too wet." Leo says.  

"Leo, it doesn't matter if we play, if we talk, whatever we do. It just matters if we do it together." Marcel tells his friend.  

Leo looks at him in awe and feels like a right fool. He slowly smiles and sheepishly says, "Yes, you are quite right, my clumsy bird friend. You are quite right."  

So, they make their way over to their little shelter. They spend their time talking and laughing about random things, and little jokes and at the end Marcel takes Leo home where they part with a happy, "Goodnight! Thank you for today!"  

Leo goes inside, gets into his pajamas, lies down, and speaks to the air, "Goodnight, my fine feathered friend. Thank you for today, thank you for being my friend."  

Across the field Marcel settles in for the night as well, "Goodnight, my silly little friend. Thank you for being there with me. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for being my friend."  

As both animals fall asleep, they do so with a smile and know there are many more adventures to come. 

[private-do-not-enter-1201]

I want to tell you a story, I'm not very good at stories but I will try. This kind of take place along the English countryside anywhere you want really.

The start of Leo & Marcel's adventures

Once upon a time there was this tiny field mouse named Leo, and Leo lived in a little burrow at the very edge of the corn field. He was a kind and brave mouse, living a mostly solitary and lonely but one might say adventurous life, but one day that changed and changed for the better.  

One day, during one of his many adventures roaming the fields, looking for games to play, food to eat, watching all the other animal families that had gathered in the field to bask in this glorious sunny day, down swooped a bird. Everyone knows that bird and oh boy, he's not of a good kind or so they think. His kind being of the corvid family, and so you see they view his kind as a threat to others.  

Now let us meet our corvid friend, his name is Marcellus and he's a truly kind bird, a very gentle bird. Now, Marcellus also lives a solitary life which is odd considering he's the type of bird that thrives in a group but well, each to their own I suppose. He, just like little Leo, loves adventures. He loves to fly, he loves to soar through the skies looking for his next big adventure and well, it just so happens his next big adventure took him to this tiny town within an otherwise inconspicuous field.  

As Marcellus swooped down to catch a closer view of life down below, our other little friends on the ground began ducking and screaming and running to their homes. They kept screaming, "Run! Run! The Dark One is here! He's here to kill us all!". So, as the other little creatures ran screaming into their homes one stayed. Now, that one that stayed, that was our little kind and brave Leo. You see, Leo did not fear the bird, he couldn't explain why but he just didn't. Now, Leo is curious as to what Marcellus is doing in his little part of town, so he continues to watch him as he swoops down to get a closer view of everything, watching as Marcellus gives up and retreats. But wait, now we know Leo is very brave and so what does he do, he follows our feathered friend out of the field.  

Now, back with Marcellus.  

As he swoops down, he hears the screams, he hears the panic…he hears what they call him and well, as you can imagine that hurts our corvid friend. He gives up, he flies until he reaches a pond and a little patch of grass beside it, but unbeknownst to him he's being followed. As he reaches the pond, he slowly lands, his feathers ruffling a tad as he situates himself on the ground. He starts to wonder aloud, "Why do they hate me so? Why do they fear me? All I want is to join in on the games.".   

He stares at his reflection not knowing that little Leo heard it all, not knowing that Leo is approaching him. As Leo grows closer, he accidentally trios over a pebble and lands with a grunt, and that grunt alerts…well, more like scares Marcellus. The bird shrieks, jumps from his spot by the water. He slowly backs up, hiding himself, trying to make himself seem smaller and not as vulnerable. Marcellus watches as Leo stands and brushes his little pants off and as Leo looks down, he sees a tinge of blood around his knee, as does our feathered friend.  

Leo does not show it but panics a little, you see, he's not aware of what the crow may do upon the sight and smell of his blood, but as he carefully rises, he notices how timid and scared Marcellus is.   

Leo thinks to himself, "This is not the bird everyone is making him out to be. He's not The Dark One, he fears us as we fear him.".   

He carefully approaches Marcellus, minding his hurt knee and quietly asks his name.  

As you can guess, Marcellus is quite confused as to why the little mouse has yet to run from him like the other animals.  

So, he carefully untucks his face from his feathers and answers quietly, stuttering in fear and a tinge of sadness, "M-my name-my name is Marcellus. What-what is yours?".  

Leo gently answers him back, "It's nice to meet you, Marcellus. My name is Leonardo, but everyone calls me Leo. Can I ask you a question?".  

Marcellus is confused but agrees, "Well, it's nice to meet you as well Leo, and yes, yes you may.".  

Leo draws a bit closer, but now with a gentle yet excited smile on his face, "Well, then! Can I call you Marcel?".  

Now our corvid friend is really confused, "Why does this little mouse seem excited to speak with me?" he thinks.  

So, he cautiously answers back, "Yes, yes you may…but m-may I ask why?".  

Leo smiles and answers, "Well, I give my friends nicknames and well, you are now my friend!".  

Marcellus startles once again, "Friend?!" he squawks "You want to be my friend?!"   

Marcell-well Marcel now, has a feeling of confusion yet excitement bubbling inside him.  

"Yes! Of course, I want to be your friend! Why wouldn't I?" Leo speaks.  

Marcel shyly looks to the ground then back up and answers softly and sadly, "Well, everyone else seems to think I'm a monster, and that I'm dangerous.".  

Leo looks at him with a soft look and says, "Well, I'm not like them, my friend. I have no fear of you, you are not a danger to anyone from what I see. Can you tell me what you were doing swooping down over our town?".  

Marcel answers sadly, "I just-I just wanted to join in on your games. They always seem like they are of much fun…but I do not like to be around many people if you can imagine, especially knowing what I am."  

"Ah." thinks Leo. "Well, then! How about you and I play games of our own then?" Leo asks excitedly.  

"Yo-you want to play games with me?" asks Marcel.  

"Yes." replies Leo  

"Oh." replies Marcel, "Do you really, really want to play with me?"  

"Very much so!" replies an extremely excited Leo.  

Marcel flaps his wings excitedly, "Yes! Yes, I would love to play with you!"  

"That's great!" replies Leo.  

"But first" replies Marcel, "Let's take care of your knee."  

Leo watched as Marcel gathered his supplies, a leaf with a tad bit of pond water inside, a couple of strips off another leaf, and a tad bit of sap from a nearby tree on the tip of a stick. So as Marcel worked at fixing him up, Leo watched. He watched as Marcel gently dipped the strip of leaf in the water and gently went over the scrape. He watched as Marcel carefully applied just a tiny bit of sap to the end of the other strip he tore off and watched as he carefully put it upon his knee.  

"Could you please finish fastening the ends together?" asks Marcel.  

"Of course!" replies Leo.  

"Does that feel better?" Marcel asks as Leo finishes.  

"Very much so, thank you!" replied Leo, "Now! Let's go play, my friend."  

Leo takes off towards a patch of solitary field as Marcel watches on, feeling the happiest he has felt in a long time. Every day after that they meet up and play in that same solitary field, which just like them, is no longer solitary. Their story continues till the end of time, traveling down the line of their families that they created. Now, look and see, once two solitary creatures who normally work in groups, except for the field mice who form colonies in the winter, have come together and made a bond that lives for all eternity.